Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-10-24
Face TO FACE.
Cromwell and Stain Before
Judge Waldron at Dexter.
Crowds Flock to See the Pris-
Oners.
Mrs. Cromwell Sits by her
Husbands side.
Numerous Witnesses Identify
Both of the men. as Seen
on the Day ofthe
Robbery.
A Globe Reporter Made to
Answer on Earth for One
of His Yarns.
Attorney General Baker Makes a
Scholarly and Able Review
of the Testimony.

Saturday, the day of the examination of
Cromwell and Stain, was a windy, chilly one,
but in spite of ttls large crowd began to
pour into the village from early in the morn
ing and at half past seven o'clock, when the
Kennebec Jour nal reporters drove past the
town house, large crowd, composed mostly
of women, was already assembled in front of
its doors patiently waiting for them to open.
All the outlying towns were well represented
Down in front of the Dexter House at eight
o'clock, the Journal man counted as many as
forty wagons, some of them two seated, and
these probably represented only a fraction of
the number which had actually arrived in
town at that hour. ~ guess those women
folks have gone to stay and
Taken Their Knitting,''
remarked lady to the scribe as ne again
drove up in front of the town hall. 1t looked
so certainly. The crowd had grown to con-
siderable dimensions and spreading across the
narrow street had lined up on the opposite
sidewalk. At nine o'clock the doors were
opened and then the frantic jam that followed,
in which no attention was paid to age or sex,
was one which is doubtless seldom seen at
this hall. But finally after being pretty
thoroughly compressed in this wedge OF
struggling but good nstared humanity, the
Journal man was shot into the hall like an
arrow from a catapault Here he found that
ample provision had been made for the re-
porters and that he had fortunately secured
the first choice of seats. The gallery was
devoted to the ladies and was completely
crowded with them. Some, as the scribe had
been informed, had brought their knitting.
Some-the younger ones-were doing lovely
fancy work. and a number had
Brought Their Dinners,
for having once secured seats "few died
AMI none resigned. "Fall back" was the
order of officer Carr at quarter before ten,
and moment later Cromwell and Stain, Sc
curely handcuffed, filed into the room in
charge of Sheriff Brown and Deputy Sheriff
Barker. They looked about the same as when
last seen by the Journal reporter. Stain was
cool and possessed, and gazed upon the crowd
which were jammed into the hall by this
time like sardines in a box, with quiet,
pleasant smile. Cromwell looked
Restless and Worn.
His prison life had given him a chance for
reflection, and his medtations had added lit
tie to his peace of mind. He had been shaw
ed and his hair closely cut. during his
sojourn at Bangor, but otherwise looked
about the same as when the Journal scribe
rode up with him from Newport on his first
trip to Dexter. little later the crowd
parted and Mrs. Merryfeld, the daughter oi
Old Stain, came into the hall accompanied
BY Mrs. Hamilton.
She greeted her father affectionately, and
taking a seat by his side, entered into earnest
conversation with him. moment later
Stain caught sight of
Mrs. Hamilton
and coming forward shook bands with hel
very cordially. 81 am glad to see you," he
said.
"I am sorry to see you here" she replied
"Well can assure you l am very sorry tc
be here" he answered, and there is little doubt
but that he told the truth. A little later
young Stain, Harvey and Sheriff Mitchell
came into the hail. and soon after Judge
Waldron called the court to order. County
Attorney F. H. Appleton opened the case fol
the government. He outlined briefly the
leading points in the Barron case. He also
stated that the government had. in its poses
sion enough evidence to convict these men o.
the murder of Mr.. Barron. At this state
ment ripple of applause broke from the
audience. which was checked by a voice
which said: don't churn the hall, its toe
well loaded" Mr.. Appleton went on to state
that it was not the purpose of the govern
ment to put in all its testimony, but merely
enough to show probable cause why the
p-isoners should be held for trial at the
February term of court. He then reviewed
the career of David Stain as leader OF
Gang OF Criminals,
and he outlined briefly the salient points Of
what the government side of the case ex'
pec,ed to prove. At the close Of his remark.
Attorney General o. d. Baker addressed the
court. He stated that in his opinion the case
might be much abridged by the agreement
of council upon the conceded facts concern.
ing the finding of Mr.. Barron, and the time
and manner of his death. This being agreed
to by the council for the respondents, Mr..
BENJAMIN C. Thompson, q blacksmith OF